Blog

2018 is an important election year for Marylanders. In addition to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, many other national and state political offices are up for election.
It is important to register to vote and then to exercise your right to vote. Primary elections are coming up – they will be held on June 26, and you must be registered to vote before June 5 to parti ..

Language matters. The language that we use to discuss substance use disorders can perpetuate stigma. And stigma against those with a substance use disorder can impact people’s willingness to seek help – for fear that they will be judged or discriminated against. Below are some examples of language associated with substance use disorders, and preferred terms that we can each ..

You might have heard talk lately about “ACEs” and wondered what it meant. ACEs is short for “Adverse Childhood Experiences.” Between 1995 and 1997, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with Kaiser Permanente conducted a study about ACEs with more than 17,000 participants. In the study, they looked at ten identified “Adverse Childhood Experiences”
Physica ..

With the help of more than 400 School Champions and 150 Community Champions registered to take part in the 2018 Children's Mental Health Matters! Campaign (http://www.childrensmentalhealthmatters.org), communities across Maryland will join us in raising awareness of the importance of children’s mental health this May 6-12.
Visit the Campaign website (https://www.childr ..

On April 7, MCF celebrated 23 participants for completing our 14th annual Family Leadership Institute (FLI). This intensive 60-hour, six-weekend experience trains parents and caregivers to become more effective leaders and advocates for children with behavioral health needs locally and at the state level.
Participants came from across Maryland, including Anne Arundel, ..

The suicide rate among youth has been going up. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among teenagers, surpassing homicides, which dropped to third. There are theories about why there has been such an increase in youth suicides (social media, cyberbullying, increased isolation), but no solid conclusions. Nonetheless, there are a number of steps that caregivers ca ..

The legislative session in Annapolis ended at midnight on April 9, 2018. There is much good news to report, but a few disappointments as well on bills that MCF supported.
SB 185/HB 160 – the FY19 Budget Bill – which included the 3.5% behavioral health provider rate increase that was provided for in last year’s HOPE Act, passed.
SB 288/HB 226 – Public Health – Overd ..

Previously we shared the story (/blog/family-peer-support-one-family-s-story) of a twelve-year-old boy with intensive mental health needs and how he and his family were helped through MCF’s Family Peer Support program. This month we are profiling a family that received family peer support assistance from a staff member of MCF’s substance use team.
A mother contacted a ..

by MCF Clinical Supervisor Ronnie Biemans, MA, LCPC
Resiliency is the ability to overcome challenges of all kinds – trauma, tragedy, personal crises -- and bounce back. It is not a personality trait, but rather a skill we build over time. It helps us to find joy again even after life’s greatest hardships knock us down.
Recent books and publications have brought r ..

Problem gambling isn’t always easy to recognize. It may be easier to hide signs of gambling than other addictive behaviors. There are no dilated pupils, slurring of speech, or other physical signs. But you may begin to see some negative indicators: change in personality, increased credit card bills, money or valuables that mysteriously disappear, and lying about the amount ..

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